The investigation continues into a fatal crash early Tuesday morning in Humboldt County. At about 1am, the Humboldt Area CHP Dispatch Center received a call of a pedestrian who had been hit by a vehicle on Northbound US-101 south of Main St. in Fortuna. Emergency personnel responded to the scene and located a deceased pedestrian, later identified as 55 year old Margery Wells of Eureka. The driver of the vehicle which struck Ms. Wells, identified as 26 year old Moshe Pepper of Mad River, continued a short distance up the roadway and contacted law enforcement to report he had been involved in the collision.
Impairment is not considered to be a factor in this collision. At this time it is unknown why Ms. Wells was in the roadway.

The newly hired marketing consultant for Eureka wants to know your thoughts on building a brand for the city. Lost Coast Outpost reports Eddy Alexander has mailed a postcard to every home and business in the City inviting each resident and business owner to share their opinions about what makes the city unique. The survey, which can be taken online at eddyalexander.com/eureka or in person at either City Hall or the Eureka Library, includes various questions which will help the firm better understand community priorities and preferences.
The survey will be available until midnight September 15, 2019.

The newly fired marketing consultant for Eureka wants to know your thoughts on building a brand for the city. Lost Coast Outpost reports Eddy Alexander has mailed a postcard to every home and business in the City inviting each resident and business owner to share their opinions about what makes the city unique. The survey, which can be taken online at eddyalexander.com/eureka or in person at either City Hall or the Eureka Library, includes various questions which will help the firm better understand community priorities and preferences.
The survey will be available until midnight September 15, 2019.

Arcata City Council will discuss the draft project report for the Annie and Mary Trail Connectivity Project at their upcoming meeting on Wednesday, September 4.
The Annie and Mary Connectivity Project will create a new trail that will connect Sunset Avenue/Larson Park to Valley West, the Aldergrove Industrial Park and the Mad River at Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District’s Park 1 on West End Road. This project also aims to improve overpasses, create neighborhood connections to the trail and improve pedestrian access to parks and businesses.

Public outreach and planning for the current phase of this project was funded by a Caltrans Sustainable Communities grant. These public outreach opportunities have generated valuable community input that has been used to develop the initial designs and alignment concepts for the new trail.

On Wednesday, September 4, the Arcata City Council will discuss the Annie and Mary Trail Connectivity Project and consider potential alignments for non-motorized travel along the trail through northern Arcata to the Mad River. The City Council meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in Council Chamber at Arcata City Hall, located at 736 F Street. All community members are encouraged to attend to learn more about this project and provide public comment

Just after 9:00PM on Thursday, August 22nd, Humboldt Bay Fire was dispatched to the Best Western at 3500 Broadway St. Crews arrived and were alerted to smoke and flames pushing out of the left side of the building by several guests who had evacuated the building. At this time, we believe the fire originated in the walls of the sauna as a result of a faulty heating unit. The sprinkler in the fitness room was operating properly and was activated to release water as designed. Crews evacuated the building and were able to extinguish the remaining smoke and flames. There were no injuries, and damage was confined to the fitness room area at an approximation of $20,000. After working with PG&E to secure power and gas and with hotel maintenance
staff to secure fire watch, guests were allowed to return to their rooms safely.

A 34 year old hiker who went missing in the Trinity Alps was found dead Sunday morning. Daniel Komins’ backpack was found off the trail between L Lake and Mirror Lake. Search and rescue teams then found Komins’ remains near the backpack, which they determined to be his. A preliminary investigation appears to indicate that Komins may have fallen in the steep and rocky terrain. Komins was an EMT in Blue Lake, an experienced hiker and hadn’t been heard from since August 11th. He had embarked on a five day solo hike.

$145,000 bail set for a man accused of threatening his neighbors with a rifle. On Monday, Officers of the Eureka Police Department responded to the 1200 block of Myrtle Avenue for the report of a subject threatening his
neighbors with an assault rifle.
Upon arrival, Officers contacted the suspect, identified as Arron Cummings (33 years
old), who stated he had had a dispute with his neighbors. As a result of interviews, it was
determined that during the dispute, Cummings pushed his neighbor causing a minor
injury. Cummings then returned to his apartment and displayed an assault rifle from the
window of his residence, while yelling a threat towards his neighbor. Officers located an
illegal assault rifle and a handgun in Cummings’ residence. The handgun was determined
to be reported stolen out of the State of Georgia.
Cummings was taken into custody on fresh charges of Criminal Threats, Brandishing a
weapon, Assault and Battery, Possession of Stolen Property, and other charges related to
the assault weapon possession. Cummings was transported to the Humboldt County
Correctional Facility .

15 years behind bars for a McKinleyville man for strking and killing a 16 year old dirl while driving while intoxicated on Central Avenue. Lost Coast Outpost reports a judge sentenced 49 year old James Merrick Tuesday after he pleaded guilty last month to the hit and run death of Tessa Gingerich. She was one of three people walking along the road when Merrick, driving on bald tires, lost control of his truck and hit her. He had already been on probation for another drunk driving offiense and his blood alcohol level was at .19.

Murder charges face a man in McKinleyville after a call of a disturbance on the 1100 block of Boss Rd. Saturday. It was reported that a male subject may have been stabbed during the incident. It was also reported that a male subject was on the ground and unresponsive. Deputies arrived on scene and located an unresponsive male on the sidewalk. Lifesaving efforts were started and the subject was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. Deputies later arrested Brian Leiteritz, age 40, of McKinleyville. He was charged with murder and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility.

A man with a gun report leads to an arrest in McKinleyville. On Thursday at about 11:10 AM, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a man with a gun on the 1600 block of Sutter Rd. It was reported that a male subject was shooting at vehicles that were passing by.
Deputies immediately responded to the area and located the subject who was still on scene. Deputies were able to quickly and safely detain the subject and secure the gun, which was located in his pocket. Although the gun had no identifying markings and appeared to be an actual firearm, it was later determined to be a CO2 powered pellet gun. While on scene, Deputies spoke to other victims who said the subject had fired the gun at them as well. There were no injuries sustained during the incident. The suspect, Tyler Godwin, age 32, was arrested for charges relating to the brandishing of a firearm.